Lazy Lizzie

Four

The excitement of the previous evening helped Lizzie win one battle against her chronic insomnia.

In the morning, dressed in a long pink dress two sizes too large, she pulled Dale's last usable t-shirt over it. There was no reason to be vain, the man knew who he was dealing with, already. She produced a long-lost compact mirror and checked herself for scales. She was still plain, she was relieved to learn: sharp nose, light brown eyes, only the eyebrows needed reconstruction. Not yet repulsive, after scrubbing her face with soap. Unnoticeable, was her target.

The tan she had perfected hid the more uneven parts so her skin had never looked better, even if a little overbaked. Except for the purple under her eyes and the strands of unwashed hair, she could play human. By night, if he didn't leave, charmed by her attitude, she would lead him to the money.

A construction of hairspray and bobby pins, the latter added to her updo at different eras - whenever a stray hair reminded her she was a woman - hid the final five inches of spliced hair, almost white, the last of her former blonde. The rest of her mane was also bottled blonde, but in a warmer color: a golden one that went for twenty more inches that darkened at the roots, ending in a too-long display of her natural hair, ordinary brown.

Because she bought all her clothes online and preferred being certain she could wear them, most of them were too large. And since her diet of two energy bars a day made her a lot smaller than she used to be, it was even more obvious.

There had been movement outside, for some time. Morning Guy was inspecting the surroundings. Lizzie hoped he wouldn't conclude that her trailer was the safe Dale relied on. Unfortunately, by the way he knocked at her door, his assessment was still ongoing.

She opened the door and stepped on Dale's last home improvement, finally eye to eye with Curious Leo. Or was it... Concerned Leo?

"I'm sorry, I couldn't wait any longer," he said, but he didn't sound like he meant it. "Did you just... sleep soundly through the night with an ex-convict lurking around? "

The hard daylight made Ex Convict even prettier because his facial hair didn't look as polished as it seemed under the previous night's artificial light. It looked like a functional trim, as did his haircut. His eyes were tired too, but their white was clear, dark moons with no irises on their narrow canvas. Not a junkie, as her other theory went. Dale was known for his sources and inventory.

"I just need to wash my hands," he moved so that she could get out of his way.

She waited for him outside, even as it became clear he was opening and closing cabinets on his way to the bathroom, and it would take longer.

When he returned from his exploration, she saw his amused awe. Even his ugly snake tattoo looked better, peeking at her from his heck hole. He had a black t-shirt on, paired with the same jeans that used to be black.

"Quite a spaceship you got there," he smiled, making her want to stop everything, give him the money, and make him leave already. "Dale was preparing for the end of the world?"

"Something like it."

It took an engine noise that she knew too well, of Trey's old truck, and the outlines of the two people in it, for Lizzie to know Dale was back.

The end of an era.